THE SMART SET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 160, 6 January 1914, Page 4

THE SMART SET.

A DELIGHTFUL ENTERTAINMENT

Exponents of high-class vaudeville have already won greai lavor in New Plymouth. The town has had the Dandies, the Troubadours, and liist night it had the "Smart Set," a versatile company bearing a certain resemblance to its predecessors, yet in some respeeto totally different.

At the outset the Smart Set must be written down ai} an absolutely flrstdftW company, Hrilliant in individual talent, and well-nigh perfect in concerted numbers, the Smart Set's varied items «> with a swing, and it s standard of refinement is as high ns its predecessors—ln the cliu-B of entertainment which it represents—have led theatre-goers to expect.

There is a hapny Inconsequence—total absence of the artificial about this talented company which must appeal (« the mo6t jaded theatre-goer. The Smart Set sing to you, plav for you, laugh with you and at you, and send you home under the impression that you, have been spending a pleasant evening with some personal friends. New Plymouth will not forget the Smart Set for some time to come.

Miss Gwenyth Evans is the possewor of a fresh contralto voice of wide rang* and great power. She found her way-to ' the hearts of her audience with V delightful interpretation of "Come, Sin? t# Me." She responded to an inalsient demand for an encore with"My Ain Foil?«' and had to sin ff yet again. Character studies are Miss Gcorgie Martin's spcci ality. She excels in lifelike- portraiture of various typ«rtirtlre<4oweT walk# of lite. She dors hor daintv best to make herself a homely "slavey," and in this her own charming nersonality i 8 her one handicap Sim fairly brought dewn the house with her sparkling numben, and was recalled again and again. .Mia* Mona Thomas wn« heart ilv encored for all her pleasing i'ems, which included a fine version of "Phve Sow?."

Mr Maynard Dakin is a happv humori ist, a nierrv jester who carries li'tg gpvence with him, vet a finisher] artist with no trace of the buffoon, The programme says "Ifaynard Dakin oinssi." .Theifc, ia no pre-arranged number, for iKia impossible to bind Mr Dakin by any guffgftstion Of formality. His humor is spontaneous, and to satisfy the audience h* wouljl have been singing still. Mr Edward Elliot is «ii artistic ventriloquist, a combination not often seen. His ventriloquial numbers are happily conceived and executed in finished style.. Tn addition he is a dolorous humorist, and a fluent nastmaster in "local hits." \Pr Ernest Parkes has a robust baritone voice of very wide range, H® sang "Oberon in Fain- Land," and as an encore "Because." Mr Walter George is a host in himself, jollv and hearty. He and Miss Georgie Martin are an inimitable pair, and., like her. he is a character delineator of the first water. The pianist, like the chorus girls in as opera, is almost always mentioned last There is not the slightest resson why Mr Edgar Ilulland should bring un the rear - * in tho company, for without his finelysympathetic accomuanimenta the performance would Buffer considerably, He ranks with Mr Leonard Griffiths, of the Dandles. The accompaniments were played on a. fine horizontal Bechstein piano, kindly lent by Mr L. E, • Hoffmann, the Now Plymouth itgent for tli* Bechstein pianos. An. entire change of programme will be offered to-night, and after last night's performance the companv is certain of. a big house.